Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-08-02 14:49
Thanks for your observations. I wasn't able to attend this year (bummer!), but from past conventions and trials of clarinet gear, I seem to fall in line with many of your thoughts. I too think that the wooden Bliss clarinet is a FANTASTIC clarinet, especially at that price point. I've only played two, and heard two others being played by friends/colleagues, but they've always felt and sounded fine to me.
And I recently adopted a "back to basics" approach to my playing. I have a clarinet that I bought and love (from the classifieds on this website, at $1800), a Richard Hawkins mouthpiece (bought on ebay used for $50, I need to buy a second as a backup in a month), a rovner dark ligature ($30?), and some legere reeds. Total setup WELL less than $2500. And while I'm at the bottom of the hill looking up towards Julian at that peak, I like my sound, my colleagues like my sound, and I didn't break the bank to get it.
But hey, people will be people. I bought a new minivan cause it gets me from point A to point B and I could afford one. Others buy a used mazda 3, others buy a new mercedes or porsche. Different things at vastly different prices, all serving the same purpose, when you get down to it.
I want others to understand that extending their budgets to get a $10000 horn and $1300 ligature, WON'T instantly make them better. Practice will make you better. BUT, if you have the extra money, and you CHOOSE to get those items, go for it. You won't be a better clarinetist by buying it, but hell, I'd buy myself a new mercedes of a clarinet if I had the income to spare!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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